Cutting apparatus

Abstract

A roll forming apparatus disclosed has a series of roll forming stations with a first group of stations having rollers that are adjustable to different width settings using the same rollers to form more than one width of ogee type gutter. A cutter uses interchangeable cutting blades and die plates for shearing different gutter sizes to selected lengths. The cutter uses a rotary drive member to move the blade in a path having a relatively short stroke that performs a scissor-like cutting action to successively cut the walls of the formed gutters for each revolution of the rotary drive member. A crank member for manually moving the cutter blade is collapsible and the crank handle is demountable for transport purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cutter for cutting shaped members having a plurality of walls to a selected length, said cutter comprising: a cutting blade with a cutting edge disposed between a pair of die plates, each of said die plates having an opening through which the shaped member is passed, said blade being movable along a selected cutting path between retracted and extended positions, and   drive means to move said cutting blade in a selected path, said drive means, including a rotary drive member with a drive pin mounted on said cutting blade a fixed distance from an axis of rotation of said rotary drive member, and guide means to position said blade in said selected path to dispose said cutting edge at a selected angle relative to each wall of a shaped member being cut and through each said wall to successively cut said walls in a shearing action, wherein said guide means includes a cam on said blade movable in slots in said die plates.   
     
     
       2. A cutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting blade has first, second and third cutting edge portions arranged in the same generally-shaped configuration as the inside of the shaped member being cut. 
     
     
       3. A cutter as set forth in claim 2 including a first claw portion between said first and second cutting edge portions to pierce an inside corner between a front and bottom wall of the shaped member and a second claw portion between said second and third cutting edge portions to pierce a rear wall of the shaped member. 
     
     
       4. A cutter as set forth in claim 2 including a ledge portion at the upper end of said third cutting edge to cut a hem along an upper edge of the shaped member. 
     
     
       5. A cutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive pin extends into a hole in an upper portion of said blade so the upper portion of said blade moves in a circular path as said rotary drive member is rotated about said axis. 
     
     
       6. A cutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam is in a lower portion of said blade so the lower portion of said blade tilts to dispose said cutting edge at a selected angle with respect to each wall of the shaped member during cutting. 
     
     
       7. A cutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening in each die plate corresponds to and are enlarged with respect to that of the shaped member. 
     
     
       8. A cutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means is moved by a manually operated crank handle assembly including a crank arm and crank handle. 
     
     
       9. A cutter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said crank handle is demountable from said crank arm by means of a snap-fit coupling for transport purposes. 
     
     
       10. A cutter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a gear train between said crank handle and said rotary drive member whereby upon the rotation of said crank handle said rotary drive member is rotated. 
     
     
       11. A cutter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said crank arm is movable between an operable position and a retracted position for transport. 
     
     
       12. A cutter as set forth in claim 11 wherein the drive train has a gear ratio such that three rotations of the crank produces a full revolution for said rotary drive member which is a full cycle of movement for said cutting blade. 
     
     
       13. A cutter as set forth in claim 1 including means to stop said rotary drive member after a full cycle of operation of said cutting blade. 
     
     
       14. A cutter as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means to stop includes an arcuate slot in said rotary drive member and a pin arranged to slide against said rotary member and move into said slot. 
     
     
       15. A cutter as set forth in claim 14 including an actuator arranged to move said pin from said slot to enable the turning of said rotary drive member.